The Hydra Monster by Lee Falk Page A

them, along with three other Vultures, had been assigned the looting of the shop of Pieter, Goedewaagen, Diamond Merchant.
V306 tried the door. It was locked, so he smashed the glass out with the butt of his machine gun.
An alarm started to ring, but that didn't matter. The soldiers were in no condition to do anything, the Zurrapa police headquarters was now a heap of stone, wood and shattered glass two miles across town.
The five Vultures stormed into the diamond
shop.
It was the last time their comrades ever saw them.
The Phantom had arrived in Zurrapa slightly before noon that day. He had traveled alone from the port city, using a small minibus the Police Captain had loaned him. The military guards at the main entrance to town, after looking at the letter Captain Miranda provided him with, had passed him into the devastated city.
The only likely target for a Vulture raid which Miranda had failed to place on his original list was jewelry row here in Zurrapa. At the other dozen potential spots carefully selected police teams of two and three men had been stationed. The Phantom felt it would be worthwhile to keep an eye on this thirteenth target.
Traveling a roundabout route, because of the many impassable streets, he'd parked the minibus two blocks from the location he sought. Then, leaving his civilian clothes behind, he had moved through alleys and over rooftops, in his tight- fitting costume, to the street of the gem merchants.
He had let himself into one of the shops. So deftly had he accomplished this that the soldiers in the street were unaware he was waiting inside the shop of merchant Goedewaagen.
The jungle teaches many things, one of which is patience. The Phantom was able to remain for several hours in the back room of the gem store.
It was possible, he admitted to himself, the Vultures would not strike here today at all. He felt, though, that it was a likely spot.
When the day began to wane, the masked man heard the sound of helicopters dropping down through the darkening sky. "It may be a military patrol," he thought.
The soldiers outside began shouting to each other, running.
"Those copters aren't ours!"
"Must be scavengers!"
"It's the looters! It's the looters!"
"Get ready to fire!"
"Look out! They're dropping something!"
"Cannisters! It's gas! It's . . ."
The Phantom stayed in the back room of the diamond dealers. No gas penetrated into the store.
The whir of the Vulture helicopters grew louder and louder and then died. Booted feet began running on pavement.
The Phantom ran into the front of the shop and stationed himself next to the door. The heavy drapes on the shop windows hid him from view.
When V306 stepped into the store, the Phantom allowed him three steps before he hit him. He dealt the man a numbing blow to the neck, and another chop which rendered him unconscious.
/
As each Vulture stepped into the store, in single file, the Phantom acted similarly. In thirty seconds, he had five unconscious Vultures strewn on the floor.
    Working swiftly, he tied each man, using cord 102
he'd brought with him. Before gagging them, he inspected their mouths for possible concealed poison capsules. He found none.
He picked up the nearest man and hefted the limp form up over his broad shoulder. Carefully, he moved out through the rear of the diamond dealer's shop.
The masked man had decided to take prisoners. Since the Vultures had arrived by air this time his original plan- to trail them to their hideout was not practical.
There was no one in the lane behind the shop. He carried the stunned Vulture quickly to his minibus. He then drove the vehicle Hear to the rear of the shop and brought out the rest of his catch.
Fifteen minutes later, he was back on the highway to Lanza with his five captives.
    CHAPTER TWENTY
"It was once a dungeon," explained Captain Miranda as they descended the stone staircase. "During a much earlier and less liberal administration. Of course we've made a good many improvements and